Everton Set to Sign Jake O’Brien for £17m Amidst Defensive Restructuring
- Jake O'Brien has reportedly arrived in Merseyside to undergo a medical with Everton.
- The club has emphasized that his potential signing will not affect their stance on Jarrad Branthwaite, who remains off the market.
- This transaction highlights Everton's intent to strengthen their defense ahead of the new season.
Lyon defender Jake O’Brien has arrived in Merseyside to undergo a medical ahead of a proposed £17 million transfer to Everton. The towering centre-back, who stands at 6ft 6in, has garnered interest from multiple Premier League clubs following a successful season in France, where he made 27 league appearances. Everton has confirmed that this acquisition will not lead to the sale of Jarrad Branthwaite to Manchester United, despite ongoing speculation. O’Brien, 23, made his senior debut for the Republic of Ireland in June and has a unique career trajectory, having joined Crystal Palace from Cork City in 2021 without making an appearance. He was subsequently loaned to Swindon and RWD Molenbeek before being sold to Lyon last August. Everton's management, including manager Sean Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell, have expressed admiration for O’Brien’s development and see him as a vital addition to their defensive lineup. The club's insistence that Branthwaite is not for sale comes amid two rejected bids from Manchester United for the 22-year-old. Everton maintains that they are not under financial pressure to sell key players, despite the recent collapse of a takeover by the Friedkin Group. The club has raised over £70 million this summer through player sales, including Amadou Onana and Ben Godfrey, the latter of whom has left a gap in the defense that O’Brien is expected to fill. With James Tarkowski recovering from injury and doubts surrounding the futures of Michael Keane and Mason Holgate, Everton is actively seeking to bolster their defensive options as they prepare for the upcoming season.